Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury
Managing Director of AB Bank Ltd.
Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury was appointed as President & Managing Director of AB Bank Ltd., the first private commercial bank of the country, on May 9, 2017. Coincidentally, the day he celebrates his first year anniversary as the chief executive of the bank is the day that the fourth edition of the Bangladesh Open will get underway and for the first time will be sponsored by the Bank. As one of the leading banks of the country, AB Bank has played a significant role in promoting sports over the last 35 years. While the bank has been long sponsoring local golf events for a number of years, this is the first time it is sponsoring the biggest golf event of the country. Mr. Rahman hopes that AB Bank Bangladesh Open 2018 will be a huge success and will help the game grow further in the country.
How much involvement does AB Bank have in regards to sports sponsorship? What prompted the bank to become the title sponsor of this event?
We have sponsored numerous sports events including Bangabandhu Gold Cup Football Tournament, Siraj Memorial Cricket Tournament, Bangladesh-Zimbabwe cricket series etc. As regards to golf, we have been sponsoring AB Bank President Cup Golf tournament at Bhatiary for the last 27 years. Since Bangladesh Open is an international golf tournament with players participating from 26 countries, we were really keen to get involved.
Is this a one-off decision or is the company willing to stay with golf, in some form or another?
We are involved with golf for a long time and definitely we will stay involved. However, an opportunity to sponsor an event like the Asian Tour doesn’t come often, so we grabbed that opportunity with great interest and we do look forward to staying involved with such events in future.
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Also read: KGC bracing for 4th Bangladesh Open
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What is the nature of your deal with the golf federation?
We have taken title sponsorship for this event, and as of now, it is a one-event agreement.
What other sports is AB Bank sponsoring or are planning to sponsor?
We are involved with football, cricket, golf, squash, volleyball, chess, among other sports. As I’ve said before, we have sponsored Bangabandhu Gold Cup in 2014 and 2015. We have been sponsoring the President’s Gold Cup at the Bhatiary Golf Club for the last 27 years. The Bank also has been sponsoring the Siraj Memorial Cricket Tournament. We have a long association with sports and we hope to continue with it.
How did the communication with the federation take place?
Previously another corporate house was involved with this event. Since their association ended, we took the opportunity to get on board and sponsor the event.
What would AB Bank like to take out of the Asian Tour?
Firstly, due to this being an international tournament, this will enhance Bangladesh’s exposure in the international golfing arena. We also expect that this will help in developing golf in our country. This kind of event helps one to gauge the progress that others have made and where we stand currently. Bangladeshi golfers get a great opportunity through this event to play on the Asian Tour, which they cannot get if it were held in another country.
We are involved with golf for a long time and definitely we will stay involved. However, an opportunity to sponsor an event like the Asian Tour doesn’t come often, so we grabbed that opportunity with great interest and we do look forward to staying involved with such events in future.
So we would like to see our golfers play really well here. While this event will also work as a promotional activity for our bank, our main focus is to help develop the popularity of the game as well as golfers in our country.
What other CSR activities is the bank currently involved in?
We are involved with various other CSR activities. We have donated considerable amount of money to the Prime Minister’s Relief fund. Like every year in 2017 we have distributed more than 70,000 blankets among the poor people of our country. We have also distributed relief and food supplies in the flood-affected areas. Besides, we have donated in the field of autism, health care, development of health care professionals, education of blind people etc. In addition we also contribute in developing the cultural heritage of the country.
Are you personally involved with golf?
No. I’m not really a golfer, but I like the game and I want that golf, like any other sport, gets the promotion and support it needs.
